Page 114 of Daddy’s Fortitude

She sighed and sat up, drawing her legs to her chest. Her head was feeling really heavy and her eyes were growing sleepy. “I know I keep hiding from tough things. I’m trying to do better. I really am. It might not seem like it, but I am. I just . . . it’s always been easier to hide away than to confront people, because I’m always concerned they’re going to get upset with me.”

“You didn’t seem all that concerned that I would get upset with you just now,” he said to her.

“I just hid under the covers,” she pointed out to him.

“No, I was talking about when you were on the roof. Then you seemed carefree, happy, as though you weren’t overthinking every word that came out of your mouth.”

“I know,” she said. “I wasn’t and it felt so good. I wish I could be like that all the time.”

“Why can’t you?” he asked.

“Because no one can be that way all the time. We can’t all just say what we’re thinking. Or things would become chaos, wouldn’t they?”

“Or would they become a lot simpler? It would make my life easier if I knew what was going on inside your head.”

“Oh, so our conversation tonight has made your life easier, has it?”

“I wouldn’t quite say that,” he said. “But it would be easier if you didn’t guard every word, if you didn’t try to censor yourself as much as you do, and if you didn’t lie to me.”

She shifted around uncomfortably. It was almost like she could feel him smacking her bottom as her ass cheeks clenched together.

“I don’t lie, not really. It’s just twisting the truth in order to protect your feelings, or mine.”

“I can assure you that my feelings do not need protection. I barely have any.”

Hmm. Now who was lying? Because she was certain that he did have feelings, even if most of them were growly, grumpy feelings. “You have feelings. You just don’t want to admit to it.”

He narrowed his gaze as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I can assure you, I most certainly do not have feelings.”

“Really? So you don’t feel anger or outrage or irritation?”

“I have those. I thought you were talking about the more ridiculous, sappy feelings, like caring and tearfulness and sadness and happiness.”

“You don’t feel happiness or sadness?”

“No. I’m just level, unless I’m angry.”

He was so full of horseshit. But if he wanted to believe that who was she to tell him any differently?

“I can’t be your Daddy, Aimee.”

She’d known those words were coming. She should have braced herself because they kind of hurt even though they were expected. She knew that he couldn’t be her Daddy. But it seemed that a tendril of hope had been living inside her, unwanted and unbidden, but there all the same.

“I know,” she told him.

“And it isn’t anything to do with you,” he said, as though he hadn’t heard her say anything. “It’s all about me.”

“It’s okay, really. We don’t have to talk about it any further.”

“I’m not a Daddy. I don’t believe I have that sort of inclination inside me. I can’t give you what you need. I don’t have the level of care and understanding that is required to be a Daddy Dom. Well, one that you would need anyway. The ability to empathize, cherish, and care for you. Yeah, that’s just not me.”

Wait a minute. Was he saying that he couldn’t be her Daddy because he couldn’t look after her like a Daddy would?

Because she’d argue he already did that for her.

However, she didn’t want to make more of a fool of herself than she already had. She wasn’t going to beg him, on top of everything else.

“I get it,” she said. “I’m not sure I’ve ever met a Daddy Dom before, so I don’t know why I thought that you might be one.”